Leonard Pollen, 58, died after he and his wife took pills and alcohol together before slashing each other's wrists over the course of a two day suicide pact, the Old Bailey heard.

His 47-year-old wife Ann, survived the ordeal but was said to have slashed her husband's wrists a second time, after a failed attempt the day before.

Pollen then attempted to commit suicide for a third time, before telling police officers that she did it because she felt she could not live without her husband.

It is believed Mr Pollen instigated the joint suicide with his "submissive" wife, both from Edmonton, north London, shortly after he was charged with historic child sex abuse allegations in 2012.

He wrote in a testament: "I have decided to commit suicide and Anne has agreed to join me."

“I have decided to commit suicide and Ann has agreed to join me.”

Leonard Pollen, a note he left

Pollen pleaded guilty to manslaughter today after judge Peter Rook QC indicated she would not face jail time for her part in his death.

Judge Rook said she had been "subservient and suggestible" to him and "she could not contemplate life on her own".

He added: "What is clear is the deceased is the dominant partner and he was of a domineering nature compared to her.

"The Crown could not argue the imposition of a suspended sentence would be wrong in principle given the circumstances of the case."

Detective Inspector Euan McKeeve, who was investigating the case, said: "As a result of increased and strained pressures on their relationship, Leonard and Ann Pollen each took a life-changing decision to enter into a suicide pact with the settled intention of death.

"I hope that Mr Pollen's wider family can take some satisfaction that Ann Pollen has accepted responsibility for her role in his death."